Ildebrando D'Arcangelo

MOZART Arias / Ildebrando D'Arcangelo 4779297

Ildebrando D'Arcangelo has a magnificent voice and when he is focused on channeling that deep, lavish sound into lyrical Mozartian lines, the effect is stunning. He offers nuanced expression in Leporello's "catalogue" aria from "Don Giovanni" and in "Rivolgete a lui lo sguardo" from "Così fan Tutte", which features a lively turn by Noseda and the orchestra. He pulls back effectively in Giovanni's serenade "Deh vieni a la finestra" and is highly affecting in a paternal role with the concert aria "Mentre ti lascio" . . . the overall impression is one of immense talent. D'Arcangelo has few peers in the roles he sings.

This is a voice which has been developing in recent years. The singer has cultivated a smoothly flowing bass sound . . . his range has been widening at both ends. This recital certainly attests to that . . . the so-called 'Champagne' aria is pretty bomb-proof and D'Arcangelo introduces a credible element of the manic into his treatment of it . . . The contribution of the Turin players under Gianandrea Noseda is generally lively and highly-coloured . . . the orchestral contribution is full of insight, imagination and dramatic reinforcement . . . Each of the classical allusions which Guglielmo makes in this piece of pretentious rhetoric is seconded by Noseda's orchestra; the rustling of the women's dresses imitated by the strings as they hurry away in disgust is particularly vivid. The singer preens himself suitably . . . The emphasis on vocal weight, polished tone production and technical security fits well with the concert aria "Mentre, ti lascio, o figlia" with its solemn theme and classical austerity of utterance. D'Arcangelo negotiates it with a smooth flowing legato. The other concert arias are more directed towards virtuosic display, in which D'Arcangelo seems fully at home. The most lustily enjoyable of the items is the concert aria with double bass obbligato, "Per questa bella mano" . . . the singer is trumped at every turn by the virtuosity of the instrumental writing, here brilliantly played by Davide Gheo . . . In terms of vocal lustre, technical accomplishment and musicianship this release is highly recommendable.